Current Situation of Human Rights (Google Translation)

Less than 150 days of assuming the Presidency of the Republic, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Peace Prize, give samples of their strategy against the popular discontent that have caused their elitist policies: police repression.

As is tradition in this country, on 14 September, the citizens of Carthage and Central Park were ready to participate in events commemorating the independence of Central American countries.Usually, this activity takes place in a climate of complete freedom, because it is a national holiday.

In the context of the struggle of various sectors of the Costa Rican population against the approval of the FTA between the United States, Central America and Dominican Republic (CAFTA-EUCARD), hundreds of people thought to take this opportunity to assert their right to express freely, protesting against the implementation of the trade agreement, but police had been prepared to stop at any cost.

The repressive actions of September 14, began when a University bus, carrying students of this school to Carthage, was arrested by the police several miles before reaching its destination, all forced to get off the transport be requisitioned.After which the police threatened to prevent the passage of the bus and the students (determined to go on foot if necessary), if it was not given a full list of the names of all occupants.All this in clear disregard of their freedom of movement and expression.But also, to the surprise of the demonstrators, and Carthaginian population, from 3:30 pm, police had closed up a perimeter of 200 meters around Central Park, preventing the free entry and citizens.

That day the police violated the right of free transit of citizens and by preventing its participation in the 2006 public event to commemorate Independence.Requisitioned people disproportionately (strollers, elderly and children carrying lanterns), and decided in a completely arbitrary who were allowed to pass and those without, among the latter either with "face" of protester.

Such arbitrariness outraged neighbors and residents of Carthage, as well as the demonstrators, for which the latter group decided to pass the police roadblocks to get to where the act was made public.After a scuffle, the demonstrators were beaten, and police checkpoints reinstated.After which, the police warned by loudspeaker to immediately put the children in the place, to attack immediately against the demonstrators, as well as against any other present, using batons and mounted police, in an act irrational and excessive use of force.

During that night, three people were arrested arbitrarily:

a) A student based in San Ramon de la Universidad de Costa Rica, which was forced to hold a spray paint and a flag pole he carried, to be shot by the police and get so-called evidence they would use in against him.

b) A student at the National University was dragged from outside the checkpoint, causing marks on the neck to be pulled from the head and neck from the strangulation that would cause one of the officers.

c) A Carthaginian citizen working in the market in that city, to express their dissatisfaction with the site-like situation that I was living in the city of Carthage, was taken from his car, beaten and then arrested, his wife and child being bullied by a police officer.

These arrests were made without justification and using disproportionate force.At the very moment of arrest the police wanted to clarify the legal and even denied that they were subsequently arrested: "They are not prisoners, they're just in there and leave right now," said a police officer consulted.Even when a National University Vice Chancellor arrived at the scene to intercede for the students arrested, the police tried to explain the reasons for detention.

In a country that claims to respect human rights, its president and Nobel Peace Prize, Oscar Arias, with his actions and became a public holiday in a "mini-state of siege" where no protesters or citizens, had the opportunity to participate, in addition to breaching their right to freedom of expression, transit and personal integrity.

The events described are extremely serious, the government used violence and abuse of power to prevent the participation of the population in a national holiday, all to try to stop the voices contrary to theirs, compared to a subject that is crucial for the future of this country.We recall that the rights to personal integrity, freedom of expression, opinion and transit and due process enshrined in Articles 22, 28, 39 and 48 of the Constitution of Costa Rica, as well as Articles 1, 3 and 8 of the Declaration of the Rights and Duties, and many other international legal instruments.

We reiterate our deep concern at the systematic way in which the Costa Rican government uses violence to intimidate those who differ from their positions and dare to express publicly.Lamntanos, which the government of a Nobel Peace Prize, police operational development more reminiscent of a military dictatorship to a democratic civilian police force.